Terpenes & Oil

There are many different strains of cannabis that are currently being cultivated, each exhibiting its own chemovar. The chemovar, or unique composition of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other organic compounds, can vary widely even within strains depending on numerous environmental factors like light, altitude, and more. However, the one thing that is certain is that preserving the chemovar profile is exceedingly difficult when producing extracts and cannabis concentrates.

In addition to their immensely potent and prolific role in distributing cannabis’ various benefits, terpenes are also among the most sensitive and volatile compounds produced by within the plant’s trichomes.

The growing popularity of cannabis extracts extends this problem a step further. Even in the more high- performance extraction processes that are CO2-based and known for delivering very potent output, the compound concentrations are dramatically different when comparing flowers with extracts. Their inherent volatility means that terpenes are lost in large quantities during the extraction process.

While the extracted cannabinoids are more potent in concentrates, the loss of key terpenes results in a significantly different chemical profile and altered effects when compared to the whole flower’s properties.

The “Entourage Effect” achievable with the inclusion of terpenes makes them a hearty and potent component of the whole cannabis flower. For instance, when cannabis is heated, terpenes may account for upwards of 50% of the smoke or vapor. This amount surpasses the 10-20% concentration of cannabinoids and remaining 10-30% of less potent terpenes found in the same cannabis smoke or vapor.

Cannabis oils and concentrates are unlikely to deliver a comparable experience in relation to the whole flower’s capabilities, creating a significant disparity as far as reproducing special effects and therapeutic properties. For medical patients that are focused on using specific strains to treat certain indications or produce certain forms of therapeutic relief, the discrepancy grows even wider.

However, thanks to a combination of analysis and technology that can accurately reproduce terpene profiles, terpenes’ well-documented medicinal and therapeutic properties can be precisely incorporated in cannabis oils and concentrates. Apart from matching the traits and characteristics of the whole flower, users benefit from a consistent experience that delivers the plant’s intended effects.